03 July 2012

An Offseason for the Ages (A Timeline)

If there's one thing to be thankful for as a Saints' fan these days, it's relevance.

While the seemingly cataclysmic events of the 2012 offseason have spawned disquietude and rage, they've also fortified an already fearsome solidarity.

The well-established, dual tenets of loyal fandom and proud insularity have undergone rebirth and are poised to reemerge stronger than ever in 2012.

As it quickly fades away, this offseason like no other deserves a documented review.

What follows is a timeline of notable events in this strange, strange offseason that somehow, someway feels almost appropriately New Orleans.

January 19: Highly-coveted and respected defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo joins the Saints to transform a defense that failed in the most inopportune moments during the past two postseasons. After a brutal Saints' loss to the 49ers in the divisional playoffs, this hiring signifies a positive offseason trend that fails to accurately portend.

March 2: Out of nowhere BountyGate breaks, birthing a chapter in the NFL's history that will be noted as a landmark for many different reasons: the corruption of absolute power, the outing of a scapegoat, an overarching fear of litigation, and an accompanying realization of vulnerability. What was soon to unfold was both unforeseeable and unprecedented, and its ultimate resolution may never come full circle.

April 5: Sean Pamphilon--filmmaker, charlatan, opportunist, and delusional savior--releases inflammatory audiotape of Gregg Williams' speech recorded prior to the Jan. '12 playoff game in San Francisco.

April 30: Joe Hummel, the NFL's lead investigator in the BountyGate scandal, suddenly resigns before player sanctions are dispensed, prompting speculation as to the nature of the timing in light of the growing skepticism regarding the veracity of the NFL's evidence.

May 2: Doubling down on the draconian punishments levied against coaches, the NFL drops the hammer on players for their role in BountyGate.

May 17: In one of the most head-turning developments in recent NFL history, Jonathan Vilma solidifies his legendary status in New Orleans by suing Roger Goodell for defamation.

May 29: Amidst growing acrimony, and unable to work out an agreement with the Saints, Drew Brees seeks arbitration to clarify the status of his franchise tag assignment.

COMMENTARYAs I'm writing this, the news of Sean Payton's divorce filing splashed across the internet. In the meantime, there are two weeks left for Brees to sign a long-term deal. Moreover, we're still awaiting both clarification on the franchise tag from 'Special Master' Burbank and a ruling on the player appeals from Goodell.

The train rolls on, and the Hall of Fame game is just a month away. No rest for the weary. An unprecedented season of both animosity and redemption is upon us. The game just got more fierce.

Say what you will about the Saints and their fans. Aside from a few select venues anywhere in sports, you're not going to find a more steeled, expansive, dedicated, battle-tested fanbase than you will in the composition of Who Dats. And if you think we're suddenly backing down and meekly slinking away into the shadows because of a little adversity, then you'd be foolhardy and dead wrong.

If it wasn't already, it's certainly personal now. The season can't get here fast enough.